Russia moves to strengthen ties with Myanmar's military junta

Russia on Friday staged its support for the military junta that overthrew the democratic government of Myanmar (formerly Burma) last February.

Moscow, which wants to extend its influence in Southeast Asia and expand its global geostrategic role, seeks to strengthen ties with whom it considers a “reliable ally”.

And in a gesture that contrasts with the harsh condemnation of the West to the coup plotters who overthrew the civil government led

de facto

by Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing it of fraud in the elections last November, the Kremlin has sent the Deputy Minister of Defense, Alexander Fomin , on the highest-profile visit by a foreign power since the riot and on the eve of Armed Forces Day in Myanmar.

And while the opposition against the coup and part of civil society that has been resisting for weeks despite the harsh repression are preparing new protests, the military junta has warned that its forces will shoot the protesters in the head, according to the state television of the country of the Southeast Asian.

"They must learn (...) that they may be in danger of being shot in the head and back," the military junta said in a statement issued on the MRTV news channel directed at the protesters.

At least 320 people have died in the crackdown since the military took power on February 1, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP) cited by Reuters.

Russia, MIF has said, considers Myanmar a "reliable ally and strategic partner" in the region.

The vice minister, who has met in the country's capital, Naypydó, with the head of the Army, Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup, has stressed his intentions to "strengthen relations between the two countries," according to the state agency. Tass.

In the images of the visit, which have been broadcast on the Russian television channel Zvezhda, of the Ministry of Defense, Fomin and Min Aung Hlaing are seen shaking hands in a room full of uniformed soldiers before the meetings of both delegations.

Also to the Russian deputy minister receiving a showy ceremonial sword and a medal from Min Aung Hlaing.

MIF, in charge of overseeing military-technical cooperation, spoke of a “strategic partnership” and commented that the visit came in response to the Burmese general's trip to Moscow last year to participate in the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Red Army's victory. about Nazi Germany.

Meanwhile, the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have imposed sanctions against the ruling military council and its extensive business network.

Activists such as Yadanar Maung of the Justice for Myanmar campaign have accused Russia of legitimizing the military junta and of being an accomplice in the "Army's terror against the people."

Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials from her party are in custody, although several overthrown deputies, living in hiding, have formed an interim government in hiding.

Russia, which together with China blocked in February a resolution in the UN Security Council condemning the February coup, is since 2008 the second exporter of arms and defense material to Myanmar (behind Beijing), which has sent traditionally many of its military to study and train in Russian academies and universities.

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At least 16% of the weapons acquired by the Asian country between 2014 and 2019 were Russian, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

From MiG-29 and Yak-130 aircraft to Mi-24, Mi-17 and Mi-35 anti-aircraft systems or helicopters.

Moscow's intention is to expand that "military-technical cooperation," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Its head, Sergei Shoigu, one of the men closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin, visited Myanmar just over a week before the coup and signed an agreement to supply the Asian country with air defense systems, radar stations and reconnaissance drones. .

Vice Minister MIF has remarked that Myanmar will receive more Russian aircraft and armored vehicles in the coming years.

The opposition prepares new protests

Activists and opponents have called to take to the streets this weekend to demand democracy in Myanmar, coinciding with one of the most significant days for the military, which commemorates the anniversary of the uprising against the Japanese opposition forces, led in 1945 by General Aung San, father of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The military prepare a great parade in the capital, Naypydó.

Ei Thinzar Maung, one of the leaders of the protests, wrote on Facebook: "The time has come to fight against military oppression," according to AFP.